High Throughput Stochastic Tensile Performance of Additively Manufactured Stainless Steels.
Abstract not provided.
Salzbrenner, Bradley↗
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Results for “PH FACTOR”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Antioxidant metabolism variation associated with alkali-salt tolerance in thirty switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) lines
Soil salinization is a major factor limiting crop growth and development in many areas. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is an important warm-season grass species used for biofuel production. The objective of this study was to investigate antioxidant metabolism, proline,and protein variation associated with alkali-salt tolerance among 30 switchgrass lines and identify metabolic markers for evaluating alkali-salt tolerance of switchgrass lines. The grass lines were transplanted into plastic pots containing fine sand. When the plants reached E5 developmental stage, they were subjected to either alkali-salt stress treatment (150 mM Na + and pH of 9.5) or control (no alkali-salt stress) for 20 d. The 30 switchgrass lines differed in alkali-salt tolerance as determined by the level of leaf malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzyme activity [(superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX)], proline and protein. Alkali-salt stress increased MDA, proline, SOD, reduced CAT activity, but its effect on protein and APX varied depending on lines. Wide variations in the five parameters existed among the 30 lines. In general, the lines with higher CAT activity and lower proline content under alkali-salt stress had less MDA, exhibiting better alkali-salt tolerance. Among the five parameters, CAT can be considered as valuable metabolic markers for assessment of switchgrass tolerance to alkali-salt stress.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Novel Materials for cell Studies and harvesting
Controlling cell growth on different surfaces is crucial for many applications. For instance after surgery, unspecific adhesion on exogenous materials can lead to fouling that may result in infections. On the other hand, fast attachment of tissue cells is pivotal for the healing process. Hence, specific regulation of cell adhesion to substrates is a significant task especially in the biomedical field. It has long been known that surface conditions like topology/roughness, wettability, charge, etc. are major factors in cell adhesion on various synthetic materials including Polytetrafluoroethylene, titanium or silicone. However, the literature is sparse on studies of cell growth on medical relevant substrates. We investigated the growth of different cells types on polyelectrolyte (PE) multilayers with and without lipid bilayers deposited and could observe confluence and multiplication of cells on both substrate types. Our neutron reflectometry studies of lipid bilayers deposited on polyelectrolyte multilayer demonstrates that the size of the water gap between the lipid bilayer and the PE covered substrate can be influenced by the environmental conditions, e.g. the pH of the surrounding medium. In principal, this 'floating' of a lipid bilayer can also be applied for growing monolayer of cells and detaching them by an environmental change. Such a fabrication would simplify cell growing and harvesting for various medical application, e.g. tissue engineering. Our approach for the fabrication of cellular monolayers that are easy to detach and transfer, creating free-floating sheets of cells also enables us to study those structures more conveniently and under in-situ conditions using neutron scattering.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Plasma electrolytes, pH, and ECG during and after exhaustive exercise.
Ten men worked on a bicycle ergometer at increasing work loads to exhaustion in 15 min. Each performed one test breathing air and another with added CO2 in random sequence. ECG was recorded during exercise and for 30 min of recovery. Arterial samples for blood gases, pH, and electrolytes were drawn at rest, in the last minute of exercise and at 1, 4, 10, 20, and 30 min thereafter. A striking increase in the amplitude of T and P waves was observed reaching a maximum in the first 2 min after exercise. All electrolytes measured were increased at the end of exercise, most markedly potassium (60%) and phosphorus (53%). Potassium dropped faster than all others to below resting values in 4 min coinciding with the lowest levels in plasma bicarbonate. ECG alterations were not closely related in time with any single factor such as potassium, but appeared to reflect an interaction of the transient mineral and acid-base imbalance during and immediately following exhaustive exercise.
Coester, N.↗
Structure of the C-terminal guanine nucleotide exchange factor module of Trio in an autoinhibited conformation reveals its oncogenic potential
The C-terminal guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) module of Trio (TrioC) transfers signals from the Gα q/11 subfamily of heterotrimeric G proteins to the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) RhoA, enabling Gα q/11 -coupled G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) to control downstream events, such as cell motility and gene transcription. This conserved signal transduction axis is crucial for tumor growth in uveal melanoma. Prior studies indicate that the GEF activity of the TrioC module is autoinhibited, with release of autoinhibition upon Gα q/11 binding. Here, we determined the crystal structure of TrioC in its basal state and found that the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain interacts with the Dbl homology (DH) domain in a manner that occludes the Rho GTPase binding site, thereby suggesting the molecular basis of TrioC autoinhibition. Biochemical and biophysical assays revealed that disruption of the autoinhibited conformation destabilized and activated the TrioC module in vitro. Last, mutations in the DH-PH interface found in patients with cancer activated TrioC and, in the context of full-length Trio, led to increased abundance of guanosine triphosphate–bound RhoA (RhoA·GTP) in human cells. These mutations increase mitogenic signaling through the RhoA axis and, therefore, may represent cancer drivers operating in a Gα q/11 -independent manner.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
The two-dimensional diagnostic model for tropospheric OH - An uncertainty analysis
Tropospheric OH is believed to play a major role in atmospheric photochemistry, and, via its chemical interactions OH ultimately may affect the climate, stratospheric ozone levels, and the pH of rain. A valuable tool for predicting the global OH abundance as a function of latitude and altitude is the two-dimensional diagnostic model for tropospheric OH. This model can also be applied to budget studies of species which interact with OH, such as CH4, CO, and O3. In addition to laboratory-obtained kinetic data, important variables include the rate constants for several reactions, the rate of heterogeneous removal of soluble species, and the global abundance and spatial variability in H2O, O3, CO, and NOx. The uncertainties in these parameters imply over a factor of 3 variability in the calculated global OH concentration as well as significant uncertainties in the latitudinal and vertical OH distribution.
Chameides, W. L.↗
Synthesis and Properties of Phases in the PbO–MO–Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} (M = Cu, Ni) Systems
In this paper, we report the solid-state synthesis, characterization, and physicochemical properties of Pb{sub 4–x}M{sub x}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 9} (M = Cu, Ni; x = 0–1.0) solid solutions. We have identified the stability limits of the solid solutions. Using the tolerance factor and relative electronegativities of the A- and B-site atoms (A{sub 4}B{sub 2}O{sub 9}), we have identified the stability fields of the perovskite-related solid solutions. The materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, and the particle size composition of the synthesized powders has been determined. Their electrical conductivity has been measured as a function of temperature. We have studied the key electrochemical characteristics of solid-contact ion-selective electrodes fabricated using the synthesized materials: linear range and slope of the principal electrode function, working pH range, and response time.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Environmental stress mediates groundwater microbial community assembly
Community assembly describes how different ecological processes shape microbial community composition and structure. How environmental factors impact community assembly remains elusive. Here we sampled microbial communities and >200 biogeochemical variables in groundwater at the Oak Ridge Field Research Center, a former nuclear waste disposal site, and developed a theoretical framework to conceptualize the relationships between community assembly processes and environmental stresses. We found that stochastic assembly processes were critical (>60% on average) in shaping community structure, but their relative importance decreased as stress increased. Dispersal limitation and ‘drift’ related to random birth and death had negative correlations with stresses, whereas the selection processes leading to dissimilar communities increased with stresses, primarily related to pH, cobalt and molybdenum. Assembly mechanisms also varied greatly among different phylogenetic groups. As a result, our findings highlight the importance of microbial dispersal limitation and environmental heterogeneity in ecosystem restoration and management.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
Potential Chemical Impacts of CO2 Leakage on Underground Source of Drinking Water Assessed by Quantitative Risk Analysis
Many geologic carbon storage site options include not only excellent storage reservoirs bounded by effective seal layers, but also Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDWs). An effective risk assessment and mitigation plan provides maximum protection for USDWs, to respect not only current policy but also to accommodate likely future USDW-specific regulatory protections. The goal of this study is to quantify possible risks to USDWs, specifically risks associated with chemical impacts on USDWs. Reactive transport models involve tremendous computational expense. Therefore, a secondary purpose of this study is to develop, calibrate and test reduced order models specifically for assessing risks of USDW chemical impacts by CO2 leakage from a storage reservoir. In order to achieve these goals, a geochemical model was developed to interpret changes in water chemistry following CO2 intrusion. A response surface methodology (RSM) based on these geochemical simulations was used to quantify associated risks. The case study example for this analysis is the Ogallala aquifer overlying the Farnsworth unit (FWU), an active commercial-scale CO2-enhanced oil recovery field. Specific objectives of this study include: (1) to understand how CO2 leakage is likely to influence geochemical processes in aquifer sediments; (2) to quantify potential risks to the Ogallala groundwater aquifer due to CO2 leakage from the FWU oil reservoir; and (3) to identify water chemistry factors for early detection criteria. Results indicate that the leakage rate would most likely range between 10-14 – 10-10 kg/(m2·year) for typical and likely leakage pathway permeability ranges. Within this range of CO2 leakage rate, groundwater quality is not likely to be significantly impacted. The worst-case scenario yields trace metal concentrations approximately twice as much as the initial value, but these predicted concentrations are still less than one-fifth of regulation-stipulated maximum contamination levels and do not exceed the no-impact thresholds. Finally, the results of this analysis suggest that pH may be an effective geochemical indicator of CO2 leakage.
CO2 leakage, USDWs, Groundwater quality, Risk anal↗
Near-adjacent heavy lanthanide separation and sensing using dimerizing lanmodulins
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Biological and medical sciences↗
Root-zone acidity affects relative uptake of nitrate and ammonium from mixed nitrogen sources
Soybean plants (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv Ransom) were grown for 21 days on 4 sources of N (1.0 mM NO3-, 0.67 mM NO3- plus 0.33 mM NH4+, 0.33 mM NO3- plus 0.67 mM NH4+, and 1.0 mM NH4+) in hydroponic culture with the acidity of the nutrient solution controlled at pH 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, and 4.5. Dry matter and total N accumulation of the plants was not significantly affected by N-source at any of the pH levels except for decreases in these parameters in plants supplied solely with NH4+ at pH 4.5. Shoot-to-root ratios increased in plants which had an increased proportion [correction of proporiton] of NH4(+)-N in their nutrient solutions at all levels of root-zone pH. Uptake of NO3- and NH4+ was monitored daily by ion chromatography as depletion of these ions from the replenished hydroponic solutions. At all pH levels the proportion of either ion that was absorbed increased as the ratio of that ion increased in the nutrient solution. In plants which were supplied with sources of NO3- plus NH4+, NH4+ was absorbed at a ratio of 2:1 over NO3- at pH 6.0. As the pH of the root-zone declined, however, NH4+ uptake decreased and NO3- uptake increased. Thus, the NH4+ to NO3- uptake ratio declined with decreases in root-zone pH. The data indicate a negative effect of declining root-zone pH on NH4+ uptake and supports a hypothesis that the inhibition of growth of plants dependent on NH4(+)-N at low pH is due to a decline in NH4+ uptake and a consequential limitation of growth by N stress.
NASA Discipline Life Support Systems↗
Sorption Behavior of Cationic Radionuclides on Biotite Flakes at pH 5 - 17326
Biotite contained in crystalline rock (granite) is a notable mineral because of its high sorption effects for cationic radionuclides. To date, studies on the sorption effects of rocks have focused on the powder form of minerals. However, the form of a mineral will seriously affect its sorption of radionuclides. This study examined the sorption of Cs, Sr, and Eu by biotite in the flake form. Biotite flakes (5 mm x 6 mm) were prepared for the sorption experiments. The initial concentrations of the tracer ions were set to 1 mM for Sr and Eu and 2 mM for Cs. The sorption experiments for Cs, Sr, and Eu were conducted by mixing 0.6 g of biotite flakes and 6 mL of trace solution at pH 5 for 7 days. As a result, the sorption of tracer ions gradually increased with continuous diffusion into the biotite flakes. The diffusion of the tracer ions into the layer structure of biotite was also observed by secondary ion-microprobe mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis. The apparent diffusion coefficient of Eu into the biotite flakes was estimated to be 3.0 x 10-12 m{sup 2}/s by applying the experimental data to a theoretical model. This estimated diffusion coefficient is smaller than that for matrix diffusion in granite. Therefore, these diffusion and sorption behaviors may be important factors to consider to more reliably estimate the migration rates of radionuclides in host rock. (authors)
58 GEOSCIENCES↗
Importance of Site Diversity and Connectivity in Electrochemical CO Reduction on Cu
Electrochemical CO 2 reduction on Cu is a promising approach to produce value-added chemicals using renewable feedstocks, yet various Cu preparations have led to differences in activity and selectivity toward single and multicarbon products. Here, we find, surprisingly, that the effective catalytic activity toward ethylene improves when there is a larger fraction of less active sites acting as reservoirs of *CO on the surface of Cu nanoparticle electrocatalysts. In an adaptation of chemical transient kinetics to electrocatalysis, we measure the dynamic response of a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) cell when the feed gas is abruptly switched between Ar (inert) and CO. When switching from Ar to CO, CO reduction (COR) begins promptly, but when switching from CO to Ar, COR can be maintained for several seconds (delay time) despite the absence of the CO reactant in the gas phase. A three-site microkinetic model captures the observed dynamic behavior and shows that Cu catalysts exhibiting delay times have a less active *CO reservoir that exhibits fast diffusion to active sites. The observed delay times and the estimated *CO reservoir sizes are affected by catalyst preparation, applied potential, and microenvironment (electrolyte cation identity, electrolyte pH, and CO partial pressure). Notably, we estimate that the *CO reservoir surface coverage can be as high as 88 ± 7% on oxide-derived Cu (OD-Cu) at high overpotentials (–1.52 V vs SHE) and this increases in reservoir coverage coincide with increased turnover frequencies to ethylene. We also estimate that *CO can travel substantial distances (up to 10s of nm) prior to desorption or reaction. It appears that active C–C coupling sites by themselves do not control selectivity to C 2+ products in electrochemical COR; the supply of CO to those sites is also a crucial factor. More generally, the overall activity of Cu electrocatalysts cannot be approximated from linear combinations of individual site activities. Future designs must consider the diversity of the catalyst network and account for intersite transportation pathways.
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
Expert Water Quality Panel Review of Responses to the NASA Request for Information for the International Space Station On-Board Environmental Monitoring System
On August 9, 2003, NASA, with the cooperative support of the Vehicle Office of the International Space Station Program, the Advanced Human Support Technology Program, and the Johnson Space Center Habitability and Environmental Factors Office released a Request for Information, or RFI, to identify next-generation environmental monitoring systems that have demonstrated ability or the potential to meet defined requirements for monitoring air and water quality onboard the International Space Station. This report summarizes the review and analysis of the proposed solutions submitted to meet the water quality monitoring requirements. Proposals were to improve upon the functionality of the existing Space Station Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) and monitor additional contaminants in water samples. The TOCA is responsible for in-flight measurement of total organic carbon, total inorganic carbon, total carbon, pH, and conductivity in the Space Station potable water supplies. The current TOCA requires hazardous reagents to accomplish the carbon analyses. NASA is using the request for information process to investigate new technologies that may improve upon existing capabilities, as well as reduce or eliminate the need for hazardous reagents. Ideally, a replacement for the TOCA would be deployed in conjunction with the delivery of the Node 3 water recovery system currently scheduled for November 2007.
Fishman, Julianna L.↗
Comparison of temperature adaptive calibration methods for laser induced fluorescence based fuel-in-oil instrument
Fuel dilution of engine oil (or fuel-in-oil, FiO) is an important issue as multiple and late-cycle fuel injection, integral to many combustion efficiency and emissions improvements (e.g., downsized boosted gasoline engines and catalyst thermal management) increases FiO rate. In addition to causing general wear and corrosion in engine due to decreased oil viscosity and pH buffering, FiO is also believed to cause destructive low speed pre-ignition (or super knock) in boosted SI engines. To understand the effects of engine operating conditions on the FiO rate, an optical diagnostic capable of measuring transient FiO on minute timescales was recently developed and demonstrated on a modified GM Ecotech engine system (Neupane et al., Applied Spectroscopy 2021). The measurement is based on adding a dye to the fuel and monitoring for its presence in oil via laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). The measured LIF signal is related to FiO concentration via pre-determined calibration factors using a multivariate classical least square (CLS) method.Since fluorescence quantum yield is a function of temperature, measured LIF intensity not only depends on FiO concentration but also oil temperature. To expand the applicability of the FiO diagnostic to transient oil-temperature conditions (e.g., cold start in practical engines), this study develops a method to account for oil-temperature variations. The effect of oil temperature (20°C - 95°C) on the LIF spectra of eight FiO samples ranging from ~0.8-15% was investigated. LIF intensities of the FiO samples decreased linearly with increasing temperature; the reductions being more significant at dye peaks. We develop a new calibration model (T-adaptive CLS) incorporating the temperature (T) effects on LIF intensity that enables simultaneous calculation of FiO and oil temperature. The improved FiO diagnostic with T-adaptive calibration is more robust, and applicable to varying oil-temperature conditions. For example, when strategies such as multiple/late fuel injections are applied to overcome cold-start instability due to use of low vaporization bio-based fuels such as ethanol, FiO rate is expected to be very high; the improved T-adaptive FiO diagnostic is hence relevant for engine- and fuel-system calibration and optimization. The diagnostic could also provide validation data for flow-field and spray interaction CFD models, further broadening the diagnostic’s utility for advancing engine technology and efficiency.
Neupane, Sneha↗
Arginine-Containing Ligands Enhance H-2 Oxidation Catalyst Performance
In H2 fuel cells, performance depends on factors controlling turnover frequency and energy efficiency in the electrocatalytic oxidation of H2. Nature uses the hydrogenase enzymes to oxidize H2 at high turnover frequencies (up to 20,000 s-1) and low overpotentials (<100 mV), while the fastest synthetic catalyst reported to date only oxidizes H2 at 50 s-1 under 1 atm H2. Here we report a water-soluble complex incorporating the amino acid arginine, [NiII(PCy2NArg2)2]6+, that operates at 210 s-1 (180 mV overpotential) under 1 atm H2 and 144,000 s-1 (460 mV overpotential) under 133 atm H2. The complex functions from pH 0-14 with rates increasing at lower pH values. The arginine groups impart water solubility and play a critical role in enhancing turnover frequency, most consistent with an intramolecular Arg-Arg interaction that controls the structure of the catalyst active site. This work was funded by the Office of Science Early Career Research Program through the US DOE, BES (AD, WJS), and the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the US DOE, BES (JASR). PNNL is operated by Battelle for the US DOE.
amino acid catalyst↗
Ferryl Protonation in Oxoiron(IV) Porphyrins and Its Role in Oxygen Transfer
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catalysis (homogeneous), catalysis (heterogeneous)↗
Crystallization of proteins by dynamic control of supersaturation
The growth of protein crystals is known to be the limiting factor in the determination of the three-dimensional structures of most proteins. It is expected that the kinetics of supersaturation, which is directly related to solvent evaporation, will affect protein crystal growth and nucleation and accordingly determine the quality, number, size, and morphology of the crystals. With a technique that controls the evaporation of solvent from a protein solution with N2(g) it is possible to determine the effect of different evaporation profiles on hen egg white lysozyme crystals. Hen egg white lysozyme was chosen as the model protein because it crystallizes easily and has solubility data available for most salt, pH, and temperature ranges. Commercially available lysozyme was further purified by a number of methods. Crystals grown with the purified lysozyme and with the unpurified lysozyme in citrate buffer were different shapes but were found to be of the same symmetry space group by precession photos. Differences were seen in the lysozyme crystals grown using different evaporation rates. At three of the four initial conditions for lysozyme crystal growth, longer evaporation times yielded better crystals. The evaporation times required to see a change in the appearance of the crystals was much longer than expected. The number of rates studied so far represent only a small fraction of the ones now available with the gas evaporation device. The technique also provides for control of both solution pH and temperature which are related to the solubilities of proteins.
Wilson, Lori June↗